The pandemic has left a void for adventure-seeking travel enthusiasts who – in better times – are fuelled by that heart-fluttering sense of discovery and excitement. You know, the type of feeling you get when you first lay eyes on a magnificent Irish castle, step inside Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia, or reach the stunning lookout point on a hike in Costa Rica. Thanks to the power of virtual 3D technology, that magical feeling is not lost for the foreseeable future, despite travel restrictions. Released on March 31, the Baalbek Reborn: Temples app (FREE) takes users back on an immersive journey through time to explore the famed Roman temples of Baalbek.
The renowned temple complex of Baalbek, the ancient Heliopolis in Lebanon, is one of the largest Roman religious sites in the world and, naturally, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Baalbek’s rich history dates back to around 8,000 BC. Today, the remaining six columns of the Temple of Jupiter – with a peak of 22.6 meters – are now part of a landmark of Lebanon.
The latest technology brings its storied past back to life, reconstructing what the ruins looked like in the past through an informative and fascinating virtual tour of the Temple of Jupiter Heliopolitanus, the Temple of Bacchus, the Temple of Venus, and the Temple of the Muses.
Users can fully immerse themselves in the beauty and intrigue of Roman architecture, as they wander through the sprawling structures’ digitally restored walls that have been in ruins for ages (literally), peering into majestic underground rooms that are off-limits to visitors.
This extraordinary – almost dream-like – experience is the result of a powerful collaboration between the Lebanese General Department of Antiquities (DGA), the esteemed German Archaeological Institute (DAI, and Flyover Zone, a U.S.-based company that specializes in virtual time travel to cultural heritage sites.
Experts from the DAI, who have been working on the site – which currently consists of ancient, crumbling structures with torn-down walls – since 1998, provided the scientific basis for the 3D reconstructions. Utilizing the latest technology, Flyover Zone succeeded in creating an impressive experience that takes users on a multifaceted journey into the past.
“What’s fascinating about Baalbek is not only the Roman temples, but also its almost 10,000-year history,” stresses Margarete van Ess, Director of the Orient Department of the German Archaeological Institute and longstanding head of scientific research in Baalbek. With the new app, her incredible findings, research, and knowledge come to life for curious users.
“As an archaeologist, finds and research results give me images in my mind of what this special place looked like at that time. It’s fantastic that the temples are now given shape in the app and can be viewed by people all over the world!” says van Ess.
Users can choose to move either virtually through today’s excavation site (the next best thing to travelling there in person) or through the digital reconstruction of the ancient religious sites. A fun ‘Time Warp’ feature allows users to move between the past and the present.
As they freely explore the 38 stops throughout the temple complexes, an optional accompanying audio track – currently available in Arabic, French, English, or German – offers scientifically sound knowledge and explanations. Users can also stroll through these streets in the year 215, when the area was at the peak of its ancient development.
“For Flyover Zone, this project has been a dream come true,” says Bernard Frischer, founder and president of Flyover Zone. “In addition to the sheer size of the Baalbek sanctuary, its cultural significance cannot be exaggerated. In antiquity, people from distant points of the empire consulted the oracle of Baalbek, and we even have records of emperors doing so, too.”
Now, says Frischer, Flyover Zone is using what they learned to bring Baalbek into the classrooms and living rooms of students and the general public. Swapping the textbooks and slides for an immersive educational experience offers a more fun and visually stimulating way to learn.
“We hope that thousands of people around the world will download the virtual tour and use it to whet their appetite to visit the site when the COVID-19 pandemic passes, and international travel is possible again,” says Frischer.
As a pleasant surprise, thanks to a generous donation from Bassam Alghanim – who donated the funds in memory of his parents Yusuf and Ilham Alghanim – the virtual tour is completely free of charge. Not only does the initiative serve educational purposes by making scientific knowledge more widely accessible, it also promotes Baalbek as an important tourist site for users to add to the travel bucket list.
So, in times of uncertainly, at least an escape from reality to the sights and sounds of global travel is still possible – sort of.
Visit the App Store to download the Baalbek Reborn: Temples virtual tour free of charge for use on smartphones and tablets (Android, iOS), PCs and laptops (Macintosh, Windows 10) as well as VR headsets (Oculus Go, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift-S, HTC Vive).
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